Horse hay-rake



(No Model.) v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. MYERS.

HORSE HAY RARE. No. 363,413. Patented May 24, 1887..

mlm/ENT@ PETERS, Pholo-Lthugnplusr. waminglan. D. C.

2 Sheets-Sheet 24.

(No Model.)

H. MYERS; HORSE HAY MKB.

Patented May 24, 188'?.

l INVENTOR .dttorney 5',

N. PETERS; PhalL'dhographar. Wnshinglon. D. C.

NITED Sr'rns arent trice.

HIRAM MYERS, OF SPRINGFIELD, OIIIO.

HORSE HAY-RAKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 363,413, dated May 24, 1887.

Serial No. 197,291. (No model.)

To rrZ whom it may concern:

Bc it known that I, HIRAM MYERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springvfield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio,

have invented certain new and useful Imp rovcments in Horse Hay-Rakes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in horse hay-rakes, being of that class denominated as draftdumpsg7 and it has for its objects, first, to provide a lever for engaging the pawls carried by the rake-head with the wheetratchet with a foot-arm and a disengaging-arln, and to combine therewith a lever for withdrawing the locking-bolt from its locking-plate when the head has been tipped sufficiently forward; second, to secure the teeth firmly to the rakehead and to eXtendthem sufficiently above the head to allow of their yielding up and down without interference by the head, the rigid connection causing the teeth to spring or vibrate in themselves and not to move at their point of connection with the head; and, third, to provide the hand-lever used for elevating the teeth by hand with a detachable member, so as to shorten it and prevent its'liability to strike the driver when the rake is dumped by the draft and the lever in question t-hrown back toward the seat.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specifcatiomand on which like referenceletters indicate corresponding parts, Figure l represents a partial side view and a partial sectional view, the cross-beams of thills being cut through in order to more clearly show the hand-lever; Fig. 2, a transverse view ofthe rake-head, showing its connection with one of the thills and the arrangement and connection of the teeth; Fig. 3, a like view of the head proper, .showingthe locking-plate in section; Fig. 4,a plan view of a portion of the machine; Fig. 5, a detached view of the spindle-plate, and Fig. 6 a detached side and sectional view of the dumping-lever.

The letter A designates the rake-head, constructed of a bar of wood and providedat either end with metallic wheel-spindles B, c ast integrally with the plates C and D, which are bolted or otherwise secured to the head. These spindles are mounted in wheels of any improved type, and the hubs of the wheels are provided with ratchets E. y

The letter F designates the thills, which have cross-pieces G and a longitudinal inner beam, H, the latter serving to lip the dumping-lever, as well as to strengthen the structure, and the thills are connected with the rake-head by the hooks I, secured to the thills, and the eye'plates J, secured to the under side ot' the rakehead, thus forming a pivotal connection which admits of the head bei ng thrown forward in effecting a dump. Two strips, K, preferably of metal, are bolted to the forward side ot' the rake-head by the bolts L, placed at intervals, and the fixed ends of the teeth M are placed between the strips and the head and held firmly by the strips and bolts. The strips K are recessed, as seen at M', to the right of Fig. 2, and the teeth are fitted to these recesses. The recesses being at the proper distance apart, the teeth are easily set theproper distance, because the recesses serve as guides.

yThe recesses also render the grasp upon the teeth more positivc.` To prevent the teeth from working out, a short bendis formed at the end, and to give the teeth more yielding capacity, yet avoid any tendency to straighten, they are provided with forward and upward bends N, as seen clearlyin Figs. l and 2. They extend above the upper strip or portion of the head, and are not prevented from yield ing by the head. A slotted guide-strip, O, is secured to the head, and serves to prevent the teeth from lateral deiiection Y p The plates C and D are formed with bearings for the support of the angular dumpingbar P, and an intermediate bracket, Q, secured to the head, serves to furthersupport it. The plates C are also provided with sleevesR, and in these sleeves are fitted the pawls S and suitable spiral springs, which admit of either pawl being thrown up independently of the other, as when one ratchet backs while the other revolves forwardly in turning. To the bar P are secured the arms T, to which the pawls S are connected, and against which the upper ends of theseisprings act. It will be seen that by a partial rotation of the bar P the pawls will be engaged with or disengaged from the ratchets, according to the direction of IOO the rotation. To effect this action of said rod, I connect firmly thereto a dumpinglever, U,

A which extends over the rake-head and over (hor through a slot in) the guide-strip O, and terminates at its upper forward end in a disengaging-arm, V, and at its lower end in a foot-arm, W. To the latter is slidingly connected with the bolt X. Afloeking-plate,

, Z, is secured to the rake-head opposite the bolt, and has upper and lower recesses or holes for the bolt. When the machine is being drawn over the ground, the bolt occupies the upper of said holes, and the pawls are consequently held out of engagement with the ratchets. When, however, it is desired to dump from the rake-teeth a quantity lof hay which has been gathered by them, the foot is placed upon the foot-arm W, and the bolt drawn from the upper hole, the tapering form of bolt and hole admitting of this. When the lever is suiiiciently depressed to present the bolt opposite the lower hole, it enters therein, by which time the consequent partial rotation of the bar l? will have caused the pawls to have engaged the ratchets, and thus the rake-head becomes engaged with the wheels and is thrown forward. When the trip-lever Y reaches the plate a on the beam H, the bolt isdisengaged from the lower hole in the locking-plate, allowing the head to move little farther round till the arm V reaches the plate a, when the disengagement of the pawls from the ratchets is effected, the bolt at about the same time entering the upper hole and maintaining this disengagement. The weight of the .head (it being pivoted near the forward edge) causes it to fall back and the teeth to recommence raking.

The letter b designates a stout arm secured i Vto the rake-head and connected by a rod, c,

ver upon the bolt, and its free end may drop A down upon the forward cross-beam. This pre-V vents liability of the lever striking the. operator when an automatic dump is effected. When the lever is used to elevate the teeth,

as when returning to the barn, the extension is locked to the lever, as shown in Fig. 1.

It is obvious that the lower recesses in the locking-plate may be sufficiently tapered, and the bolt likewise tapered, to admit of the disengagement of the bolt by simply acting upon the foot and disengaging arm without the use of the tripping-lever.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a hay-rake, the combination, with the head and a pawl-.operating bar mounted upon the rear portion of the head, of a lever fitted to said bar, extending over the head and in a forward direction vand terminating in a foot- Y arm occupying a position approximately near the thills, and a'disengaging-arm above the foot-arm, a lockingbolt mounted upon said lever, and a locking-plate secured to the forward side of the head and opposite to said bolt, whereby when the disengaging-arm is resisted the bolt disengages from the plate.

2. In a hay-rake, the combination, with the head and the locking plate carried thereby, of a dumping-bar carrying pawls, a lever connected with said bar and constructed with a foot-arm and a disengaging-arm in one piece, a locking-bolt mounted upon the lever, and a pivoted trip-lever, also 'mounted upon the lever proper and engaging with the bolt.

8. In a hay-rake. the combination, with the rakefhead and a locking-plate having depressions or holes and secured thereto, of a ratchetactuating lever carried by the head, and having a foot and a disengaging arm, the triplever pivoted to the other lever, and the locking-bolt.

In testimony whereof I affix my'signature in presence of two witnesses.

' HIRAM MYERS. Witnesses:

FRANK RIGHTMYER,

O. O. BILLow..

IOC) 

